DEMOCRACY

Athens, a city state of Ancient Greece. Only elite or royal blood governed the country. In 514 BC Spartans attacked Athens. Isagoras chief rival: Cleisthenes. Cleisthenes turned to people for support and won a popular appeal. More direct role of citizens in running the city-state.

ORIGIN

What is democracy?
Demokratia, or democracy rule by the
people. Only men over 20 were allowed to vote only from a certain category (Productive i.e. Farmers etc). Women, children, slaves and alien residents did not have a say in it. Core meaning of democracy: people governing themselves.

Continued Modern Definition

Two main principles: Equality and Freedom. All citizens being equal before the law Having equal access to power. Freedom secured by legitimized rights and liberties. Protected by a constitution.

No. People did not have equal rights. Huge discrimination i.e. certain people allowed to vote. Things not different from the times of aristocracy with the introduction of this so called fair politics. Corroded with slavery, venality, war and inequality. Just a mere concept.

Athens: A democratic state?

TYPES OF DEMOCRACY

Direct Democracy
Citizens make policy & law decisions in person. Without going through representatives & legislatures. Head of State: any member of government in turn (for one year);has no practical importance. Government : o members with equal right o selected by the parliament o represent all major parties.

Continued

Parliament: Elected for a fixed legislative period No dissolution Changing coalitions Government members need not be members of parliament People vote on laws and representatives.

Continued
Laws created in four steps: i. Draft by the administration ii. Consultation of federal states, political parties, entrepreneurs, unions and other interested groups. iii. Parliamentary debate and final version passed. iv. Possibility of a referendum.

Presidential Democracy
A system of government in which also called an executive branch exist but is separate from the legislature. President: elected by the people nominates the ministers [members of government]. Parliament: elected for a fixed legislative period

Continued
Clear institutional separation of parliament and government. Government members need not be members of parliament Strong position of the president (veto) Laws are debated and passed by the parliament Lobbyists do not have a formal right to be heard

Continued
The president may block a law by veto He may or may not rely on a majority of the parliament .

Parliamentary Democracy
A system of representative government in which the dominant party in the legislature determines the Prime Minister. Head of State: has a different function than prime minister it may be a monarch (queen/king) or an elected person.

Continued.

Government : Elected by the parliament based on a majority May be dismissed by the parliament. Parliament: Elected for a legislative period Dissolution and early new elections are possible if a clear majority cannot be established. Government members must be elected members of parliament.

Continued

Strong position of the political parties Laws: Proposed by the government. Debated and passed by parliament. Lobbyists do not have a formal right to be heard If there is a solid majority, compromises are sought within the coalition Opposition may be ignored until the next elections

Power To The People?

Democracy: Does not have a single universal meaning or type. Does not limit to only power of the people Does not abide by its literal meaning.

Do People Really Have Power?

No. Do not have absolute power. Only have a right to vote. Have no say in anything further: How they are being governed What Laws are being passed for them

Does people include everyone?

Yes Almost. Concept has not truly spread Do not have a right to vote traditionally: (FATA) By law women are allowed to vote but they are restricted by traditions. In 90s in South Africa, only White people were allowed to vote.

Breaking The Four Words

Only half of it is true. Historian Wallance R. Wirths says: The people have very little power and certainly in nearly all cases they dont rule.

Is Democracy the Best form of Government?

Platos Ship Analogy

State :elaborate and expensive ship Needs an expert navigator at the helm An ignorant and untrained person at the helm would endanger everyone there. Similarly State needs expert governors, well informed! Ignorant and incompetent governors can be and have been disasters for citizens and states.

Continued.

Democratic self-government does not work because: Ordinary people have not learned how to run the ship of state In their ignorance they tend to vote for politicians who trick them with appearance & nebulous talk. At the mercy of administrations and conditions over which they have no control They do not understand what is happening around them.

Continued
They are guided by unreliable emotions more than by careful analysis. Wil Durant: Democracy is the most difficult form of government It requires the widest spread of intelligence. 100% literacy rate for success.

How democracy can be made real and justified

Equality of educational opportunity

Men cannot be equal however their access to education and opportunity can be made more equal.

People..
Victims of Ignorance Cant make the right decisions Cant decide for themselves what they want Until people don't have the right amount of education, democracy will fail every time. Due to struggle for democracy, there is now more freedom and widespread rights.

CONCLUSION
Wallance R. Wirths: True democracy has never actually existed & doesnt exist even today. And undoubtedly it wont exist in future as well.